Startled at his sudden blunt question, Eva quickly turned the phone screen off. Looking a bit palpitated, she lowered her eyes down and tried to answer him holding a straight face, "umm...He...He is..." Her voice trailed off looking very hesitant and fidgeting her fingers.
Eric has been always a sharp observer and quite evidently he noticed her perplexity in answering his query. The ambiance in between them was turning out to be quite uncomfortable and he could sense it. Taking a small sigh out, he chose to divert the mood into a lighter one.
"Leave that question, Miss Ricci. Pardon me, I didn't intend to make you much stiffer around me. Let's talk about something else." Projecting a kind simper in his puffy lips, he sounded much cordial.
Eva could understand it distinctly that he had already sensed her troubled silence regarding his query. Making a modest face, she nodded her head silently but her inner palpitations were growing much worse.